Sam Altman could return to OpenAI as CEO after the company initiated talks to potentially reinstate the former CEO of the artificial intelligence (AI) research lab. 

OpenAI said, "We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo. We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this." 

Former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor will serve as a director on a new board. 

This development comes after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in an interview to CNBC that he’d be open to Altman returning to OpenAI, rather than joining his company. Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman were set to join Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.

Over 500 OpenAI employees, including co-founder Ilya Sutskever, on November 20 signed a letter demanding the resignation of the remaining board members. They indicated that they would follow Altman to his new AI research venture at Microsoft if their demands were not met.



Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/openai-saga-how-the-corporate-drama-will-impact-the-companys-brand-17669.htm">OpenAI Saga: How the corporate drama will impact the company's brand</a>

BREAKING: Sam Altman returns to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board?

Former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor will serve as a director on a new board.

Brands to demand accountability from OOH vendors after Mumbai hoarding incident

Advertisers alarmed by Mumbai hoarding collapse; ad agencies, brands call for audits and action

No business impact on Patanjali Foods due to Patanjali Ayurved misleading ad controversy: Sanjeev Asthana

Apple News+ rolls out new game and offline mode to drive subscriptions

Ola's Bhavish Aggarwal: Recent controversies and challenges faced in the tech Industry

Illegal ad hoardings - deadly threat to people's lives and property

Representational image via Unsplash

Zee-Sony merger saga ends: Timeline of the failed merger

Why are Indian brands advertising in NYC's Times Square?

What Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick teaches us about leadership

Advertising is in the position where tobacco was: IPG's Arun Kumar 

Biz Moves: Interactive Avenues, Verve Media, Foxymoron and Grapes

There is an opportunity for building a better agency, not just a different one: Manja's Prajato Guha

“Strongman monopoly promoting illegal hoarding, sub-standard installations”: Vikram Bhalla of Vivify Asia

When a taboo topic is given the shape of an art, then it becomes acceptable: FCB India’s Anusheela Saha

Netflix to launch in-house ad-tech platform by 2025-end

Honeywell Automation India elevates Atul Pai to MD

Piyush Pandey

Adtech regulation a priority for Modi govt in third term: MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Credibility of news and platforms are as important as monetisation challenges: Anurag Thakur

HUL: Meet the leaders who have emerged from "The CEO Factory"

Punit Goenka addresses Zee employees; ensures no layoffs due to failed merger

Disney's strategic sale to Viacom18 set to boost market share to 40 percent

The Leader's Edge: Storyboard18 in conversation with leaders, decision makers and disruptors

Nobody’s Perfect Retro Porsche Ad

In Conversation With Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard

Shahid Kapoor And Varun Ganjoo Speaks On PokerBaazi's Campaign

In conversation with IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal & GroupM’s Kate Scott-Dawkins

Why are brands including e-sports in their sports marketing itinerary?

Storyboard18 x The English Nut: How to pronounce these 10 brand names

Experts' Take On Reinvention Of Ad Campaigns Through Technology

Experts Speak On Key Emerging Trends In Cannes Lions Entries

Leaders of the future have to be outstanding human beings: Nestle MD

In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

Google chief Sundar Pichai shared his first-ever post on LinkedIn, a platform owned by Microsoft. Pichai shared, "For my first-ever LinkedIn post, I thought I’d share a sneak peek of the Shoreline Amphitheatre stage, as we put some finishing touches on our keynote for Google I/O tomorrow. Can’t wait to see those seats filled with developers from around the world who are building the next generation of AI experiences." 

He added, "Excited to join Demis Hassabis Elizabeth Reid Sissie H. James Manyika and others on stage. We'll share how our Gemini models are bringing breakthrough AI capabilities to people through our products, as well as innovation across safety, research, infrastructure…we’re going to talk about it all. Tune in if you can — 10 a.m. PT tomorrow!" 

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LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals, has more than 1 billion members and has offices around the globe. 

Earlier this month, Microsoft Corp. and LinkedIn released the 2024 Work Trend Index, a joint report on the state of AI at work titled, “AI at work is here. Now comes the hard part.” The research — based on a survey of 31,000 people across 31 countries, labor and hiring trends on LinkedIn, trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals, and research with Fortune 500 customers — shows how, just one year in, AI is influencing the way people work, lead and hire around the world. 

Microsoft also announced new capabilities in Copilot for Microsoft 365, and LinkedIn made free more than 50 learning courses for LinkedIn Premium subscribers designed to empower professionals at all levels to advance their AI aptitude.

“AI is democratizing expertise across the workforce,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “Our latest research highlights the opportunity for every organization to apply this technology to drive better decision-making, collaboration — and ultimately business outcomes.”

Sundar Pichai's first-ever LinkedIn post: What did the Google boss say?

Firstpost has issued an alert about fraudulent ads involving the misuse of the name and image of its Managing Editor, Palki Sharma by cyber criminals. Individuals have been deceived through false ads on social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram, claiming to offer stock market courses by Palki Sharma.

Bringing attention to the false ads, Palki Sharma posted on X and alerted the users. In her post, she said, “This is a scam. A lot of you have shared these posts with me in the last few days. (Thanks for flagging!) My photos are being misused and such fraudulent ads are being circulated on Facebook. Despite complaints, @Meta has not taken action.”

Palki Sharma does not provide any investment advice or stock market course through WhatsApp or any other social media platform. She is not associated with any group offering stock recommendations or financial advice, and people are urged to exercise caution and report any suspicious activities immediately.

To avoid falling victim to such fraud, it is recommended to ignore advice from unknown sources, verify information from official sources, and maintain secure practices for personal and financial transactions. It is important not to trust any information shared through unofficial channels and sources. In case of any suspicious activity, Firstpost advises people to report it to the appropriate authorities immediately.

For further information and to report fraudulent activities, please visit <a href="https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/">www.cybercrime.gov.in</a> or contact the helpline number – 1930 or the cyber cell of the local police department.

Link to the post on X: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is a scam. A lot of you have shared these posts with me in the last few days. (Thanks for flagging!) My photos are being misused and such fraudulent ads are being circulated on Facebook. Despite complaints, <a href="https://twitter.com/Meta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Meta</a> has not taken action. <a href="https://t.co/B5zkQkDwGH">pic.twitter.com/B5zkQkDwGH</a>&mdash; Palki Sharma (@palkisu) <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu/status/1787546496956596362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Scam alert! Fake ads impersonating Palki Sharma of Firstpost

Games24x7 announced the elevation of Tridib Mukherjee to the position of Chief Data Science & AI Officer. In his new role, Tridib will continue to drive Games24x7's data-centric approach, leveraging his extensive expertise in data science and artificial intelligence to drive innovation and enhance user experiences.

Having served as the Vice President of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Games24x7 for over six years, Tridib played a pivotal role in implementing cutting-edge algorithms and AI-driven solutions that propelled Games24x7 to the forefront of the online gaming industry. Tridib will continue to spearhead data science & AI teams and enable product teams to create personalized and engaging experiences for players.

Commenting on the announcement, Bhavin Pandya, Co-CEO and Co-founder, Games24x7 said, “Our scientific approach to running business really goes all the way back to our inception and has been the primary force behind our success. We are delighted to announce Tridib's promotion to Chief Data Science & AI Officer. With his expertise and the exceptional talent of our AI and data science team, which has grown significantly over the past five years, we've continuously raised the bar when it comes to offering personalised gameplay experiences including responsible gaming.  We are confident that the organization will continue this tradition of innovation under his leadership, and we wish him the very best as he spearheads our data-driven journey to new heights.”

Tridib Mukherjee, now the Chief Data Science & AI Officer, Games24x7 said, “At Games24x7, we have always worked for the players and our operating ethos of 'Science of Gaming' has been the guiding principle behind every decision we make. Over the past six years, I've had the privilege of working alongside an incredibly talented team dedicated to advancing the frontiers of gaming through the lens of data science. And I look forward to many more years of collaboration and innovation as we continue our mission of leveraging technology to create even more engaging and enjoyable gaming experiences for our users.”

With over two decades of experience and a distinguished academic background, including a PhD in Computer Science & Engineering from Arizona State University, Tridib Mukherjee is uniquely positioned to lead Games24x7's data science initiatives to new heights. His prolific record as an author of over 70 research papers and multiple patents in AI and data sciences reflects his deep expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and more. The talented team at Games24x7, along with Tridib's leadership and award-winning contributions, positions the organization to shape the future direction of the industry and deliver unparalleled gaming experiences to its users.

Games24x7 elevates Tridib Mukherjee as Chief Data Science & AI Officer

Unilever's Chief People and Transformation Officer, Nitin Paranjpe, took to LinkedIn to share a story about defying self-doubt and finding unexpected joys in embracing a personal challenge, even if the results are... well, let's just say entertaining.


“I am musically challenged. I struggle with rhythm; I don’t have any natural talent. Around twenty years ago, I decided to test this. I wanted to see, if you are challenged in a particular field, what can you do with effort and discipline,” he said in his post.


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Almost 20 years ago Paranjpe found someone to teach him the keyboard. “If you want to know the outcome of that study, I still play badly. That’s how I challenged I am,” he said.


But then it was still a win for him because he always thought he wouldn't be able to string together a tune even if he was given the notes. Paranjpe goes on about his tryst with music. 


He didn’t find a lot of success in his learning story but definitely found joy. “Anyone who listens to me today could well say-My god! After so many years you still suck,” he said.


And to that he’d say, “Yeah, and that's okay. You have no idea where I was compared to where I am now.” Paranjpe ended the note with a profound thought. He said, “What started off purely as a challenge has turned out to be a lot of fun.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/hul-appoints-vipul-mathur-as-executive-director-personal-care-takes-over-from-madhusudhan-rao-30619.htm">HUL appoints Vipul Mathur as Executive Director, Personal Care</a>

Unilever’s Nitin Paranjpe shares an endearing story about his lack of musical talent

The marketing industry plays a dynamic role in influencing consumer behaviour and fostering economic growth. After the grand success of the first two editions of Storyboard18 Visionaries, held in Gurugram and Bengaluru, the program is now gearing up to be in the city of marketing and creative excellence, Mumbai. 


The third edition of Visionaries to be held on Friday, April 26th will witness some of the biggest names in brand marketing come together to celebrate the brilliance of marketing mavens.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/sustainability-at-heart-and-purpose-defines-the-path-diageos-hina-nagarajan-24779.htm">Sustainability at heart and purpose defines the path: Diageo India's Hina Nagarajan</a> 


Storyboard18 Visionaries celebrates luminaries from the world of brands and marketing who have disrupted and revolutionised the way we approach media and advertising. The Visionaries is a one of its kind platform that presents opportunities for the sharpest minds in the business to convene, celebrate excellence and exchange ideas that power growth. It is a night of gala celebration shaping the future of marketing in India.


The city chapters of Visionaries aim to bring together meaningful conversations, spotlighting path-breaking achievements and future gazing strategies.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/storyboard18-visionaries-britannias-varun-berry-shares-leadership-lessons-24840.htm">Storyboard18 Visionaries: Britannia's Varun Berry shares leadership lessons</a> 


The Mumbai event promises to be an evening to remember, with the coming together of iconic leaders and new-age marketers. The event will feature a keynote address by Bharat Puri, CEO, Pidilite Industries and a special address by Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd. The evening will spotlight leading marketers from a wide-range of brands including HDFC Bank, P&G, Mercedes, Hindustan Unilever, Visa, L'Oreal, Mondelez, Spotify, UltraTech and Mahindra Group, among others. It will also feature engaging conversations with Nishant Kalra, Country Vice President, Salesforce, and MVS Murthy, CMO, Federal Bank, among others. The Visionaries programme for CXOs and executives brings a ringside view into ways of shaping consumer behaviour.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/storyboard18-visionaries-bengaluru-chapter-blockbuster-celebration-of-marketing-brilliance-24771.htm">Storyboard18 Visionaries - Bengaluru chapter: Blockbuster celebration of marketing brilliance</a> 


The Visionaries programme for CXOs and executives provides unparalleled insights of how the best and brightest function in complex times. So, meet us at the point where cutting-edge ideas and visionary leaders who are changing our approach to media, marketing and advertising, converge to power transformation.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/the-visionaries">The Visionaries</a>

Storyboard18 Visionaries Mumbai Edition is here!: Join the celebration of marketing mavens

The Derma Co., an active ingredient backed skincare brand from Honasa Consumer Limited, marked a milestone of achieving an annual revenue rate of INR 500 crore. "This achievement underscores Honasa Consumers’ capabilities to craft and scale new brands with strategic innovations, delivering exceptional skincare solutions to consumers across India," Honasa Consumer said in a statement. The milestone demonstrate the strength of the brand's on-trend, data-based innovation strategy, the company stated. 

Its focus on leveraging data for product innovation and responding swiftly to emerging trends continues to be a cornerstone of the strategy, the company added. 

Commenting on this milestone, Varun Alagh, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Honasa Consumer Limited, says “The Derma Co.'s remarkable achievement of INR 500 crore annual run rate is a strong testament to our strategic brand-building approach at Honasa Consumer Limited. Our success is an output of in-depth consumer study of the evolving consumer demands and being able to innovate swiftly to deliver differentiated propositions to our consumers. This focus on excellence has helped us set new benchmarks across the active ingredient-based skincare segment. At Honasa, we are committed to continue our quest towards fueling our innovations and offer brands that serve the evolving consumer demands.”

Last month, Honasa Consumer Limited, the parent of Mamaearth, also launched ‘Staze’, a colour cosmetic line in a bid to enter the segment currently dominated by the likes of L'Oreal, Lakme, Sugar. “Staze is poised to carve its niche with a distinct emphasis on performance and innovation. We firmly believe that Gen Z consumers, who are seeking value and innovation, and Staze is uniquely positioned to meet and exceed their expectations", said Ghazal Alagh, Chief Innovation Officer, Honasa Consumer Ltd.

Varun Alagh added, “Honasa has always been at the forefront of innovation and being the pioneers in the BPC industry, we recognised a vital opportunity to address the burgeoning demand for innovative yet accessible colour cosmetics. And with the colour cosmetics segment boasting a remarkable CAGR of 12 percent and a substantial size of Rs 15,000 crore, it became evident that there was a gap in the market. These factors paved the way for Staze…”



Mamaearth-maker Honasa Consumer's second brand, The Derma Co., enters the Rs 500 crore ARR club

For Nidhi Mehta, director - finance, GOZOOP Group, Chief Financial Officers’ role extends beyond traditional finance boundaries. They are responsible for the finance and accounting professionals who perform operational functions and services in a strategic advisory role to the CEO and the rest of the C-suite peers. 


In a conversation with Storyboard18, she added, “A CFO's role commands a lot of respect in the ad agency as they advise other department heads, assist them in maximising revenues and controlling expenses without sacrificing customer needs and the agency's reputation.”


Edited Excerpts


Tell us about your career trajectory and journey. Where and how you started and what got you here.


I am a chartered accountant by profession. Post my three-year article ship, this is my first corporate job at GOZOOP Group. Years back I had not heard of GOZOOP but there was definitely a vibe when I entered the office for an interview. 


Digital Marketing was a thriving industry then and the core management at GOZOOP was impressive. The job profile offered was perfect and hence, there were no second thoughts. It's been years since that decision and since then there has been no looking back. 


What led you to join the advertising agency ecosystem in finance? What were your initial impressions and thoughts of the ad agency business? 


Advertising is always an exciting industry. In this new emerging era, where there is a wave of entrepreneurship and brand building, marketing today plays the most pivotal role for any new business start-up. Digital marketing helps thousands of new business entrepreneurs push boundaries and drive impact. 


How has the role of a CFO in an ad agency changed over the years? What does the job entail today? Where have you seen the biggest changes in what the role and function mean to the business? 


The CFO's role is extending beyond traditional finance boundaries and an increasing number of finance leaders view it as a pathway to the CEO position. The modern CFO is aspirational. 


Once mere observers in the boardroom, they are now crafting long-term strategies that ensure organisational stability. They are integral members of the top executive team, possessing a profound understanding of the company's vision. 


How do other departments and functions in the agency view the role of the CFO and the finance function? 


A CFO's and finance team's role in an ad agency is viewed as the most challenging role as they oversee the company's financial activities. This includes being responsible for the finance and accounting professionals who perform operational functions and services in a strategic advisory role to the CEO and the rest of the C-suite peers. 


A CFO's role commands a lot of respect in the ad agency as they advise other department heads, assist them in maximising revenues and controlling expenses without sacrificing customer needs and the agency's reputation.


How has the agency business model evolved? What have been the key changes and disruptions according to you and the impact of these shifts on the ad agency business model? 


Advertising agencies have evolved by leaps and bounds. It began with a simple printed ad in a newspaper and evolved into radio and television, commercials, billboards and digital advertising in the modern era. Advertising techniques have also become more sophisticated, incorporating psychology and consumer behaviour studies to create persuasive and effective campaigns.

 
Agencies are facing threats from all places. Is the business model future-ready? 


It is definitely future-ready as today the focus has shifted from the product to address consumer needs. With the emergence of new technologies and data-driven approaches, agencies can remain indispensable by tapping into this potential. 


However, with the pace of changes happening across the industry, agencies that do not develop a framework and plan for modernising their operational model that's inclusive of AI and technology will likely encounter increased challenges with both client and talent retention. 


From your observation, do you see any gender inequality or disparity in the finance function across levels? Agency leadership has traditionally been male dominated and advertising was seen as a boys club. Does that hold true for finance as well and the CFOs in advertising?


Not at all. The finance department at GOZOOP was and is always driven by women leadership. As far as the industry is concerned, there are several factors that lead to one's leadership goal.


What are the steps ad agencies must take to advance CFOs' role in advertising?


Agencies should enhance better communication between CFOs and other departmental heads. Regular meetings between them are needed to negotiate and discuss expenses and budgets that are aligned to the company's goals. 


A CFO should be made an integral part of all important decision-making of the agency as finance and marketers think and behave very differently. A combination of their brainstorming where marketers are driven by creativity and finance is driven by numbers and budgets could lead to some amazing outcomes for both the client and the agency.


What according to you are the biggest threats facing the advertising agency business today?

In-housing and talent retention are two of the biggest pressures that agencies face today. The threat remains that a brand will bring certain functions in-house, leaving agencies without that business. Brands are in-house because they believe they can do better work in a cheaper, faster and more transparent way. The other big issue is around both recruitment and retention of talent. There has always been volatility for agencies around talent. 


What are the trends you are currently witnessing in advertising, and what is the role of a CFO in such a scenario?


The rapid emergence of AI and the increasing role of technology within business operations is the current trend. CFOs should follow a test-and-learn approach where with their ability they are ready to take a smart risk and foresee how certain trends will impact their business. 


They should encourage the team to begin taking steps now to experiment with AI, explore how technology can drive operational value for the business, and help them understand how internal talent is spending their time and how to maximise their value for the business. 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/managing-your-mind-at-work-and-beyond-isnt-easy-it-takes-a-lot-of-maturity-and-wisdom-says-bajaj-autos-deepika-warrier-16913.htm">Managing your mind at work and beyond isn't easy; it takes a lot of maturity and wisdom, says Bajaj Auto’s Deepika Warrier</a>

CFOs breaking boundaries, crafting long-term strategies for organisational stability: Nidhi Mehta, GOZOOP Group

Anupam Mittal, the founder and CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com, and a prominent investor on Shark Tank India, is widely recognized for his strategic investments in renowned startups and unicorn companies such as Ola Cabs, BigBasket, Druva, among others. Mittal is also one of the leading voices to take on big tech firms like Google and Meta, slamming them for their "unfair" monopolistic practices in markets like India. 

On April 9, Meta "arbitrarily" disabled his company's account, prompting Mittal to call out the Mark Zuckerberg-led company on social media. Mittal also tagged Meta's India operations' head Sandhya Devanathan in the post. 

A frustrated Mittal said, "So, shockingly our Meta account was arbitrarily disabled this morning with nobody in the know or able to help, even at our scale. This is the dysfunction of Big Tech & monopolies, something hashtag#cci must take note of. Sandhya Devanathan" 

Netizens chimed in with sympathies and suggestions. Relating to Mittal's frustration users said Meta is "only sale no support" while some urged Mittal to assemble all the Sharks and create their own Made-in-India social media platform like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. 

When Mittal took on Google 

On March 1, Google announced it would remove apps from 10 Indian developers, including Shaadi.com, Naukri.com, jeevansathi.com, and Bharat Matrimony, from its Play Store in India for non-compliance with its billing policies. Among the most prominent voices that spoke out against Google's practices, was Anupam Mittal. 

“Today is a dark day for India Internet,” Mittal said as he came out hitting hard against Google’s action of delisting Indian apps. 

Mittal wrote on X, “Google has delisted major apps from its app store even though legal hearings are underway @CCI_India & @indSupremeCourt Their false narratives & audacity show they have little regard for India. Make no mistake - this is the new Digital East India Co and this #Lagaan must be stopped! Pls RT and #SaveOurStartups”.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/anupam-mittal-asks-is-google-evil-as-the-battle-between-google-and-indian-app-developers-rages-on-25363.htm">Read more: Anupam Mittal asks, "Is Google evil?", as the battle between Google and Indian app developers rages on</a>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/interactive-avenues-anupam-mittals-first-investment-as-an-angel-investor-25997.htm">Read more: Interactive Avenues: Anupam Mittal’s first investment as an angel investor</a>

Angry Mittal?: Anupam Mittal "shocked" after Meta disables his company's account

DTDC Express Ltd., a leading express logistics provider in India has elevated Abhishek Chakraborty as its Chief Executive Officer. In his new role, Chakraborty will continue to propel DTDC forward, solidifying its position as a front-runner in the logistics industry with the aim to drive substantial growth and innovation for the company.

Chakraborty said: “Encapsulating our direction of “Building a NextGen DTDC for GenNext DTDCians”,... together we will continue to foster a culture of shared success and excellence.”

Before assuming the role of CEO, Chakraborty led DTDC as Executive Director for 15 years. He played a pivotal role in establishing a strategic partnership between DTDC and Geopost (owned by La Poste). He also spearheaded the DTDC and Amarex partnership and introduced many initiatives like launching the MyDTDC app and introducing DTDCShipAssure™, DTDC’s 100 percent money-back guarantee service that enabled the company to achieve new heights. His strategic leadership expanded the company’s network to 16,000+ partners, serving 96 percent of India’s population and the larger South Asian diaspora globally.

DTDC operates India’s largest physically accessible express logistics Network and has over 16,000+ exclusive channel partners that contribute to its sales and service capabilities.

DTDC Express promotes Abhishek Chakraborty to the CEO position

MakeMyTrip has achieved a significant milestone in its two-decade-long journey by becoming accessible worldwide, the company said in an announcement this week. 

MakeMyTrip has now expanded its reach to over 150 countries, including major travel markets such as the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, France, and others, besides the US and the UAE. 

“The rigorous standards of compliance and commitment to data protection we have in place for our Indian business helped us transition smoothly towards stringent international compliances,” said Rajesh Magow, co-founder and chief executive officer of MakeMyTrip.

“We are indebted to the trust and affection that we have received from Indian travelers for over two decades and continue to hold ourselves to higher standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on a regular basis. Our decision to make MakeMyTrip accessible globally is a result of this very goal – testing our processes against rigorous protocols across the world to enable our travelers to book or modify their travel purchases on the platform without any roadblocks wherever they are geographically,” he said.

MakeMyTrip said the platform has also ensured compliance with various international regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), to accomplish this expansion.

Magow added, “Our global accessibility will help us reach the vast Indian diaspora. Importantly, this expansion will enable us to cater to a broader audience, fostering increased inbound travel to India. Our extensive coverage, offering accommodations in more than 2,000 cities, will assist international tourists in discovering the hidden gems of India.”




MakeMyTrip CEO on expansion in 150 countries: Global accessibility will help MMT reach Indian diaspora

Sam Altman could return to OpenAI as CEO after the company initiated talks to potentially reinstate the former CEO of the artificial intelligence (AI) research lab. 

OpenAI said, "We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo. We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this." 

Former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor will serve as a director on a new board. 

This development comes after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in an interview to CNBC that he’d be open to Altman returning to OpenAI, rather than joining his company. Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman were set to join Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.

Over 500 OpenAI employees, including co-founder Ilya Sutskever, on November 20 signed a letter demanding the resignation of the remaining board members. They indicated that they would follow Altman to his new AI research venture at Microsoft if their demands were not met.



Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/openai-saga-how-the-corporate-drama-will-impact-the-companys-brand-17669.htm">OpenAI Saga: How the corporate drama will impact the company's brand</a>

By Vijay Anand

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday (November 21) told CNBC that there is a pressing need for a governance overhaul at OpenAI following the sudden removal of CEO Sam Altman. Nadella stressed the necessity of changes in OpenAI's governance structure, signalling that Microsoft intends to engage in a constructive dialogue with the OpenAI board regarding these modifications.

“At this point, I think it’s very clear that something has to change around the governance,” Nadella told CNBC. He added that Microsoft would have “a good dialogue with their board on that.”

While dispelling concerns about potential long-term damage to OpenAI, Nadella assured that the crucial artificial intelligence research and the partnership with Microsoft would persist. However, uncertainties remain about the future roles of ousted CEO Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman, who served as the company's chairman.

Nadella on Monday announced that Altman, Brockman, and their colleagues would join Microsoft as part of a new AI research group. Despite this, as the day progressed, the clarity on Altman and Brockman's transition to Microsoft became less evident. OpenAI employees, in response, expressed their concerns by signing a letter to the company's board, demanding resignations or indicating their potential departure to join Altman at Microsoft.

Nadella acknowledged that OpenAI employees have the option to either stay in their current roles or transition to Microsoft, stating that Microsoft possesses the capability to continue innovating independently.

“I’m open to both options,” he said during the interview.

The possibility of Altman's swift reinstatement had begun to gain traction over the weekend, with news emerging that a group of prominent investors, including Microsoft, Tiger Global, Thrive Capital, and Sequoia Capital, were actively working to reverse the board's decision. Notably, none of these firms held board seats and were reportedly caught off guard by the sudden developments.
In a post on the platform X, Altman expressed his love for the OpenAI team, hinting at a potential desire to return. Greg Brockman, who resigned as chairman alongside Altman's removal, echoed these sentiments by reposting the comment with a heart symbol, a sentiment shared by other OpenAI employees.

Nadella emphasised Microsoft's respect for OpenAI's nonprofit roots and its shared belief in the responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence.

“We want to make sure that we’re dealing with not only the benefits of technology, but the unintended consequences of the technology from day one, as opposed to waiting for things to happen,” Nadella said.

Satya Nadella says governance needs to change at OpenAI

A few days before Pride Month, Starbucks India created a trans-inclusive campaign #ItStartsWithYourName. The film shows a family union wherein a transgender woman meets her parents after a long time for coffee at Starbucks. It is implied that her father has had issues with her identity in the past.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Your name defines who you are - whether it&#39;s Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ItStartsWithYourName?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ItStartsWithYourName</a>. ? <a href="https://t.co/DKNGhKZ1Hg">pic.twitter.com/DKNGhKZ1Hg</a>&mdash; Starbucks India (@StarbucksIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarbucksIndia/status/1656133960924012545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Within a few minutes there was a barrage of tweets from people calling Starbucks woke and propagandist.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tata is big time woke. They own Starbucks, Tanishq (remember that ad?). They fund The Wire, Harvard, Cornell, etc. But are smart enough to sell their products with nationalism (desh ka namak, desh ke truck, army themed ads). Funds all political parties good as well.&mdash; THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) <a href="https://twitter.com/theskindoctor13/status/1656594686331748353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">If you wanted to normalise it, you should have used a transwoman who looks like 99% of them. By using one who looks &amp; sounds like a woman set impossible standards that will lead to more mental health issues in trans people and their self harm rates will go up. Shame on u. <a href="https://t.co/1slId7l4TA">pic.twitter.com/1slId7l4TA</a>&mdash; Eminent Intellectual (@total_woke_) <a href="https://twitter.com/total_woke_/status/1656881240039993344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

An ongoing case demanding legality of same-sex marriage has been taking place in the Supreme court. Storyboard18 has reached out to multiple brands but most have refused to comment on inclusive practices at their workplace or creating a space for queer community in their brands. 

It seems that Starbucks has taken a stand, even though in the past, brands have been accused of using the Pride Month for rainbow washing and clout chasing.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/brands-should-go-beyond-tokenism-and-be-more-queer-friendly-say-lgbtqia-influencers-6184.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Brands should go beyond tokenism and be more queer-friendly, say LGBTQIA influencers</a>

Patruni Chidananda Sastry (they/he/she), a non-binary and bisexual drag artist feels as trans people often face discrimination in public spaces whenever they try to access, being a coffee shop and welcoming trans individuals is definitely an example for a lot of brands to be trans-inclusive.

“The backlash we are receiving is a testament that there is hate being induced on us deliberately to curtail our freedom of accessing something as simple as a coffee. Trans people in public spaces have often triggered the conservatives as they want us to not be visible at all. It's high time that brands be with us and ensure to create more inclusive and diverse campaigns as they know those would change the mindset. It's high time brands be loyal to the cause and take risk,” Sastry shares

The LGBTQIA community seems to think that brands should normalise PRIDE instead of sensationalizing it, as Sushant Divgikr says. Divgikr who was crowned Mr Gay 2014 is a social media influencer, reality tv star and drag queen among other things. Watch his views here. 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrideMonth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrideMonth</a> | &quot;Let&#39;s not celebrate Pride for only one month. We are alive all the other months.&quot; ? Sushant Divgikr <a href="https://twitter.com/thedivasushant?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thedivasushant</a> asks brands to NOT sensationalize LGBTQIA representation ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pride2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pride2023</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rainbowwashing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rainbowwashing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marketing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Marketing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/media?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#media</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LGBTQIA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LGBTQIA</a> Here are Divgikr&#39;s views <a href="https://t.co/NWS2PmDIW7">pic.twitter.com/NWS2PmDIW7</a>&mdash; Storyboard18 (@BrandStoryboard) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandStoryboard/status/1656911868781551618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Like Divgikr, Sastry too feels that the queer community needs publicity as it takes ages to ensure that the bias is gone. “Brands just doing a pride campaign is definitely hypocrisy, brands need to take a stand and invite diverse communities with sensibility and then put it across to people. “

Karthik Srinivasan, a communications consultant says, “I loved the ad. Starbucks has done the same thing in the UK and Brazil. In India, they have incorporated the ad with cultural nuances. The ad was inclusive, honest and truthful. I don’t understand the anger. But in the larger context, Budweiser in the US also did an inclusive and friendly ad with trans people and it also got backlash. If people don’t like something, they don’t want brands to associate with it."

Parmesh Shahani, LGBTQIA inclusion consultant and author of the book Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in the Indian Workplace, says “ I am happy that Starbucks has used its advertising to communicate a message of trans inclusion just as many companies and brands like Brooke Bond and Fast Track have done in the past. All of these companies understand that LGBTQIA inclusion is a win-win proposition; all the data indicates that being inclusive makes you more money, makes you more innovative and wins the loyalty of gen Z and millenials - their present and future customers..”

He further states, “Given that 6-10 percent of our country might be LGBTQIA and that society is changing very rapidly in terms of acceptance at colleges homes and workplaces, all these brands have understood that the future is undoubtedly LGBTQIA inclusive and are using their ads to participate in it.”


Shahani feels trolling is a relatively short-term phenomenon in today’s day and age. “But committing to a cause is a much deeper and long term purpose and brands that continue to stand by the LGBTQIA community are sure to have the long term support of not just the community but also millions of straight allies.“

Cancel 'Cancel Culture': Tata-Starbucks faces boycott calls from netizens over trans-inclusive ad

“Rubeena, we have to meet up at Toto’s!” was Sid’s often repeated invitation when it came to meeting up in Bandra over a drink, recalls former colleague and friend Rubeena Singh, Country Manager India & MENA, AnyMind Group 

Singh first met Sidharth Rao in 2013, when she was at Network18 and Rao (then founder of WebChutney) was also associated with the Network18 Group. Singh and Rao met at an award show where they shared the award for best content between Moneycontrol and ScoopWhoop. From then to 2016-2021, as fellow colleagues at Dentsu India, they worked together and interacted a lot. 

“I always remember Sid as someone full of bright ideas, with a refreshing honesty, full of humility, a self-deprecating sense of humour and generous to the core - all of which made him an extremely likeable and trustworthy friend and colleague. In 2021, I moved out of Dentsu but we remained in touch, catching up in person and over the phone often,” shares Singh.

When Rao decided to return to his entrepreneurial roots and co-founded Punt Partners, one could easily notice the new found excitement in him, as he explained what he was trying to build. The other thing he was very excited about was the farmhouse he and his partner Shweta had set up in Karjat. “Everytime we met in Bandra or at an event or a social gathering, we would get an update about the farm. Little did I know that my maiden visit to his farm would be after he passed away,” rues Singh.

Read More:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/sidharth-rao-a-digital-maven-who-made-creative-entrepreneurship-cool-in-india-7434.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sidharth Rao: A digital maven who made creative entrepreneurship cool in India</a>

Coming from an army family, Rao was always respectful towards his parents, friends, colleagues and teammates. “He didn’t possess even a slight streak of arrogance despite winning so many accolades. On the contrary, he was slightly shy in public,” remembers Singh, adding, “He always saw the good side in people, was more than ready to give the credit to his team and his colleagues. He shied away from taking the spotlight, even when he truly deserved to bask in it.”

Singh remembers Rao for his less than conventional, instinctive style of leadership, and meticulous note-taking. “Whenever we had our Dentsu leadership meetings, I was always impressed by Sid’s meticulous notes and how he came up with ‘out of the box’ suggestions,” shares Singh. “His visionary leadership put WebChutney and Dentsu India on the creative world's map. Dentsu eventually went on to be known for winning India’s first ‘Agency of the year’ award at Cannes Lions.”

Singh says, “With Sid gone, India has lost one of its original internet startup entrepreneurs. With him gone, I have lost a friend and a confidant who was inspiring in the way he handled adversity." 

Read More:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/sidharth-rao-lived-life-king-size-from-the-beginning-to-the-end-ashish-bhasin-7448.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sidharth Rao lived life King size, from the beginning to the end: Ashish Bhasin</a>

Read More:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/sidharth-rao-wasnt-one-for-the-high-society-party-circuit-and-never-lost-his-connection-with-real-india-shubhranshu-singh-on-rao-7428.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sidharth Rao wasn’t one for the high society party circuit and never lost his connection with real India: Shubhranshu Singh on Rao</a>

Sidharth Rao shied away from the spotlight, even when he truly deserved to bask in it: Rubeena Singh on Rao

Five years ago, when Indian creative directors came home from the Oscars of advertising they had a bag full of inspiration on how to crack the digital code. Cut to 2022. They are returning with a suitcase full of Lions for their cutting-edge tech-driven work.

Dentsu Webchutney created history by winning three Grand Prix in a single year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for Vice Media’s campaign ‘The Unfiltered History Tour’. The agency also grabbed a much-coveted Titanium Lion, a category that celebrates game-changing work. The campaign has also become India's highest-ever awarded work in Cannes Lions' history.

Dentsu Creative India also won the prestigious Agency of the Year title.

Storyboard18 asked Ajay Gahlaut, group chief creative officer, Dentsu Creative, what makes ‘The Unfiltered History Tour’ a winning campaign. He believes the way the campaign has used creativity and tech to question history has got people interested. Also, its subversive nature has added to its appeal. “The fact that one is bypassing the ‘official’ narrative of the British Museum and accessing an alternate view through technology is very exciting. The campaign has started a conversation all over the world about the evils of colonisation,” he added.

On winning the Agency of the Year, he said: it's "an emotion I cannot even begin to describe. When I used to watch other agencies win the title I often wondered if I ever would get that same honour." He added, "Not just me I think no one in the entire Indian ad industry has been part of such a huge haul of Lions ever before...I doff my hat to the entire team responsible for the Unfiltered History Tours. Those who are with us now and those who have moved on. Congratulations all.”

What is the Unfiltered History Tour?

The campaign is a guided tour for visitors at the British Museum, which houses some of the world’s most disputed artefacts. Through The Unfiltered Tour, visitors to the museum could scan the artefacts using Instagram filters and unlock an augmented reality (AR) experience that visually teleport the objects back to their homeland. Taking this further, The Unfiltered History Tour also extends into a ten-part podcast series featuring experts from the countries where the artefact was taken from and not from where it’s currently housed. This was done to provide a broader education on the artefacts, as well as the history and ongoing impact of colonialism.

The germ of the campaign idea came up during a casual conversation between the agency’s former chief creative officer PG Aditiya and former CEO Gautam Reghunath. The campaign took about 18 months to come together. Once the campaign took off, Aditiya, Reghunath, and a few others who worked on it, quit to set up a new creative hot shop called Talented.

Credit culture took the spotlight

Dentsu Webchutney has been entering the campaign for awards and has been bringing shiny metals home from across the globe. Every time a few trophies are added to the agency’s shelves, they tag Aditiya, Reghunath, and a few others on social posts giving them due credit and respect. So much so that Gurbaksh Singh, chief innovation officer, Dentsu Creative India, couriered a replica of the Grand Prix trophy to Reghunath before he flew to Cannes and asked him to unbox it when they win. Singh had a gut feeling that the campaign will win big.

The team spirit of Dentsu Webchutney and Talented is setting the right example for the ad industry. It says a lot about how the Indian creative community is becoming more mature when it comes to sharing credit.

When creativity meets data and business transformation

Ogilvy India and Wavemaker made history, too, by winning a Titanium Lion. The agency got it for its Cadbury Celebrations’ ‘Shah Rukh Khan - My Ad’. In 2020, as a part of the brand’s ‘Iss Diwali Aap #KiseKhushKarenge?’ campaign, Mondelez India’s ‘Not Just A Cadbury Ad’ leveraged artificial intelligence to create hyper-personalised spots for local businesses in and around 260 pin codes. It married creativity and tech with a purpose: to promote local businesses at a time when they were worst hit by the pandemic and lockdowns. The campaign tied in with Cadbury's global brand positioning centred on genuine acts of kindness and generosity.

In 2021, in addition to the hyper-personalised brand films that reached the end-consumers, local retailers got a chance to make a version of these ads for their stores, using the AI-powered technology developed by Rephrase.ai. Small businesses that are pinned on Google maps could share their custom-made ad featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan through WhatsApp. In these ads, Khan was seen nudging consumers to shop from various local stores. Wavemaker India was the media agency behind the campaign.

The agency also won Gold Lions in categories like Creative Data and Direct.

The other Grand Prix winner

The other Grand Prix this year went to VMLY&R India's 'The Killer Pack' campaign for Maxx Flash in the Health & Wellness Lions. In India, garbage collection points act as major breeding grounds for diseases like dengue and malaria, while mosquito repellent coils are only used to fight mosquitoes inside homes, Maxx Flash decided to change that practice. The mosquito repellent brand introduced The Killer Pack, a 100% biodegradable, innovative packaging lined with 5% Active Probiotic Bacillus thuringiensis, which kills mosquito larvae when disposed of in garbage dumps, dustbins, and stagnant water, helping to break the vicious cycle.

The campaign also won Lions in categories like Creative Commerce and Creative Business Transformation. The agency’s campaign ‘Smart Fill’ for Unilever picked up a Silver Lion in the Sustainable Development Goals category.

These campaigns indicate that at the core of technology-driven work is creativity and data that pushes the envelope and powers marketing strategies.

Purpose-driven narratives win big and a Grand Prix 

Historically, India is known for winning big advertising awards for campaigns that are purpose-led. This year, too, a bunch of purposeful campaigns roared at Cannes Lions.

Leo Burnett India’s campaign ‘The Missing Chapter’ for P&G India’s Whisper got India’s first Grand Prix for Sustainable Development Goals Lions. It’s a category that celebrates creative problem solving, solutions, or other initiatives that harness creativity and seek to positively impact the world.

Leo Burnett India’s film titled ‘The Missing Chapter’ is a part of the brand’s #KeepGirlsInSchool movement. It was designed to illustrate how a girl’s lack of period education contributes to her missing school days, a situation exacerbated by the glaring absence of period education in Indian textbooks. The same campaign won a Silver Lion in the category Health & Wellness.

Dheeraj Sinha, CEO Leo Burnett, South Asia & Chairman BBH India, tells Storyboard18 that what makes this an award-winning campaign "is perhaps both that fact that it balances creativity and purpose while also helping the brand scale up and meet its business objectives. It is an impactful campaign that makes a real difference to both consumers and the business itself."

He further indicated, "one of the biggest problems holding girls back is a lack of period education. 23 million girls fall out of the education system because they don’t understand what’s happening to them. The missing chapter is another initiative towards keeping girls in school. It's real in its impact."

Rajdeepak Das, CEO and chief creative officer, South Asia, Leo Burnett, tells us that the campaign also took a granular approach. "We decided that if the girls don’t have access to the chapter on period education, we will take the chapter to them. Thus evolved the idea of using one of India’s oldest communication forms – ‘wall-art’ to spread period education by taking this chapter to India’s smallest towns and villages," he explains.

After identifying 28 art styles specific to the geography of each state, the agency worked with local artists to create custom hand-drawn paintings centred around ‘The Missing Chapter’ on periods. Hyper-localized in 28 different languages, slogans with catchy lines were crafted to bust period myths along with a 3-step visual aid on how to use a pad. These paintings have been put up on school and village walls – a place no girl can miss seeing these.

Indian Lions roar on the global stage

FCB India is the other Indian agency that got home Lions. FCB India and Kinnect a bunch of Lions for SOS Children’s Village India’s ‘Chatpat’ campaign. In the Film category, which was announced on the last day at Cannes Lions, the campaign got a Silver and Bronze Lion each. DDB Mudra’s ‘Machine-Gun Mouth’ spot for Battle Battlegrounds Mobile India promoted responsible gaming. Made by Early Man Films this ad picked a Bronze Film Lion.

VMLY&R India’s campaign ‘Adeli’ done for Unipads was India’s only winner in Glass Lions. The agency picked up a Bronze Lion.

From period talk to addressing the ongoing impact of colonialism, Indian agencies took on several purposeful subjects and married data, tech and creativity to create impactful work for clients and at the same time make history at the Cannes Lions.

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